Substance Abuse

Using drugs started in the early centuries. Smoking tobacco became popular after Christopher Columbus discovered the positive affects of smoking tobacco leaves. Alcohol was seen as a gift from God, and other drugs stemmed from thrill seekers trying different chemicals and natural substances for pleasure. When using drugs frequently a psychological and physical dependence occurs due to the pleasure and relief assoaciated with drug use. Drug use is most commonly started through peer pressure, model observation, and advertisement. The use of tobacco is commonly started in the early 20’s of an adult. There are a number of reasons why people may start to smoke tobacco. As a child growing up, children may see their parents or older siblings smoking cigarettes making them want to try it. As children grow into young adults, they are either pressured into smoking cigarettes or they see their favorite role models smoking cigaerretes. Teenagers usually view cigarettes as the cool thing to do and start becoming regular smoker in the early 20’s. At this age many people have higher risk factors such as having kids, not graduating from college, low paying jobs, or problems with their appearance. Although cigarettes may have a positive feeling as far as calming the person, or realiving stress, there are also negative factors. A persons health is damaged by cigarettes. The nicotine in the cigarette causes psychological and physical dependence making the person believe that smoking is ok when in fact it can cause heart and lung disease. Alcohol causes some of the same effects. Alcohol just like cigarettes cause a psychological and physical dependence because . Even though drinking too much can cause hangovers and illness people still engage in drinking. There are a number of reasons for drinking alcohol. Some people want to try alcohol because their family members or role models drink , or...

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

...I only smoke to relax myself. My community is drowning from substanceabuse, drugs and alcohol.
“People abusesubstances such as drugs, alcohol, and tobacco for varied and complicated reasons, but it is clear that our society pays a significant cost. The toll for this abuse can be seen in our hospitals and emergency departments through direct damage to health by substanceabuse and its link to physical trauma. Jails and prisons tally daily the strong connection between crime and drug dependence and abuse. Although use of some drugs such as cocaine has declined, use of other drugs such as heroin and "club drugs" has increased”(Reilly, 1989).
Drugs has become a big part of our society, I was a auto-technician for a big car company that work with Bentley and RoseRolls. I have to go into customers car to fix or diagnose the problem, 60% of the time I find or smell marijuana in the car. That is the rate this country is going, 1 out of 2 people smoke, at least cigarette. Many marijuana users believes smoking pot has no negative effects, scientific research indicates that marijuana use can cause many different health problems.
This always contribute to our society negatively, it make kids act up, make parents not function as parents, and eventually make the society slowdown. All this are happening without the drug being legalize, marijuana is always the focus...

...Impact of Psychiatric Disorders on Treatment Outcomes for Patients with SubstanceAbuse
Daniel Painter
Raritan Valley Community College
Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………..page 3
Abstract 1………………………………………………………………………….page 4-5
Critique 1………………………………………………………………………….page 5
Abstract 2…………………………………………………………………………page 6
Critique 2………………………………………………………………………….page 6-7
Abstract 3…………………………………………………………………………page 8
Critique 3………………………………………………………………………….page 8
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………..page 9
Introduction
For this research I selected the articles that concentrated on treatment outcomes for clients with addictions who also had a mental illness diagnoses (depression, anxiety, antisocial personality disorder, phobias). The first two research studies were conducted at different times but by the same researcher, Drar Charney, MD, and concentrate on outcomes of addiction treatment in patients with co-occurring disorders of anxiety and depression, or both at the same time. The last article by Wilson Compton, MD, focuses on drug dependence treatment outcomes in patient with a variety of mental illnesses. All three studies show similar results in predicting outcomes.
Study #1 Abstract
The first study that I selected, “Association Between Concurrent Depression And Anxiety And Six Month Outcome Of Addiction Treatment” conducted by Dara Charney,...

...than murders and traffic fatalities combined.” Some opiates have medically valid uses, while others are recreational drugs of abuse. All are physically addictive, and it has become evident that many people have begun to abuse them. Pharmaceutical drugs have taken over the minds of many Vermonters.
I do believe that Vermont is facing a severe epidemic when it comes to opiate addiction. According to Governor Peter Shumlin, “We're spending roughly $134 million of taxpayer dollars a year to incarcerate drug- and alcohol-addicted people.” The amount of money spent on addicted people is astonishing. This dollar amount could be greatly reduced if proper treatment programs we put into place. Opiates can alter the way the brain functions. Once such drug, hydrocodone, has become popular because it is easy to get a prescription for.
Hydrocodone that is combined with acetaminophen is known as vicodin. Use of this drug has been increasing over the past decade as an estimated 7 million dosage units were diverted by the DEA in 1994 and in 1997 over 11 million. Over 56 million new prescriptions were written for hydrocodone products and by 2000 over 89 million were written. The average consumption nationwide has increased 300% from 1990 on. There has been a 500% increase in the number of Emergency Department visits that are contributed to hydrocodone abuse. In 2000, the estimated visits were 19,221. The DEA laboratory system seized...

...As the use of illegal drugs and alcohol continues, substanceabuse across America has become a very serious social problem. It is mental illness that has an effect on different races, classes and genders. The affects of substanceabuse has caused countless of people to feel heartache and develop feelings of hopelessness. With alcohol and drugs readily available through prescription or on the streets (Butler,2010), it is obvious why many are acquiring addictive patterns to these accessible substances, and that the continual abuse of these substances has a severe long-term effect. Characteristics such as age, gender, race, socio-economic class, sexual orientation, different social groups, and geographical location are contributing factors in such ways to why one might develop a substanceabuse problem. Understandably, the effects on each individual are different; however, there are some commonalities of substanceabuse. The news/media tends to portray the causes and affects of substanceabuse negatively and often ties substanceabuse with such issues as crime rates and homelessness. Although substanceabuse is a social problem, it is also a disease and mental illness that can be directly correlated to a person’s race, class, and...

...Substanceabuse counseling is a rewarding career for anyone who wants to help people who are battling addiction to drugs or alcohol. Counselors find work in therapeutic facilities, hospitals, prisons and halfway homes. They have a choice of working with teens or adults.
The primary function of substanceabuse counseling is to help people manage their addictions so they can return to society and function successfully as productive citizens. Substanceabuse counseling can also include family members who are affected by an individual’s addiction.
Characteristics of a SubstanceAbuse Counselor
Substanceabuse counselors have a strong desire to help people. They are good communicators both in speaking and writing. Strong writing skills are necessary to complete treatment plans and reports. Their greatest asset is excellent listening skills.
High energy is essential in order to cope with the problems and stress of patients. Patience and compassion are other characteristics needed to be an effective substanceabuse counselor. Compassion must be balanced with objectivity in order to give the patient all the help needed to manage addiction.
Education and Training Required
Substanceabuse counseling involves psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, rehabilitation, crisis...

...﻿ Name: Walther Rizo
Class: Intro to Physcology
Professor: Hernandez, Luisa
October 4, 2014
Adolescent Substance Use Disorders
Substanceabuse issues in adolescents has long been a public health concern for a number of reasons. There are significant economic issues associated with underage use of alcohol or tobacco; sometime exceeding billions of dollars annually according to the article “Adolescent SubstanceAbuse Disorders” by Laurie Chassin, Kaitlin Bountress, Moira Haller and Frances Wang. In terms of public health issues, there is also the concern that use of illicit substances so early in a young person’s life can result in a significantly diminished level of cognitive function (Chassin, et al) and this can also have an effect on society as a whole.
From a historical perspective, the issue has waxed and waned over the years. Prior to the advent of the 19th century and all of the advances that the ensuing era brought along, the process of going from childhood to an adult was fairly short. There wasn’t the significant time to be an adolescent that there is now because lifespans were shorter and kids were expected to do more from a fairly young age. Therefore, the issues with adolescents that are present now, particularly as they relate to substanceabuse were not as prevalent back then. However, with Prohibition and people starting to live...

...SubstanceAbuse and the Elderly
Substanceabuse in the elderly exists just as in any other population. Many seniors develop substanceabuse problems due to circumstances or situations due to the aging process. A report by the Center for SubstanceAbuse Treatment/SubstanceAbuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that 17% of adults age 60 and older are affected by alcohol abuse and abuse of legal drugs.
The report also states that a third of those seniors who abusesubstances did not have a substanceabuse problem in their earlier years. People usually think of substanceabuse as using illegal drugs and young people as the most common abusers. People do not think of seniors as abusers of drugs. As a result, the issue of substanceabuse by seniors has been under-researched and the number of seniors who use substances is much higher than reported. In 2000, an estimated 568,000 persons aged 55 or older had used illicit drugs in the past month and over 5 million were "binge" alcohol users, including more than 1 million who were heavy alcohol users. The number of substance users among older adults is likely to increase in the coming years due to the aging of...

...Effects of Genetics and Environment on SubstanceAbuse Human Growth and Development 11/30/11
Abstract
Previous research has shown direct links between environmental factors and substance use in adolescents, while the link between genetic factors and substanceabuse may only be inferred. The current research further investigates the correlation between genetic and environmental factors and substanceabuse in adolescents. The results showed overwhelming evidence that genetics can predispose adolescents to substanceabuse and illustrated the environmental factors that lead to substanceabuse. Further research should be conducted in both areas of investigation.
Genetic and Environmental Factors Influence SubstanceAbuse in Adolescence
As defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition (DSM-IV 2000), substanceabuse is a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress. This paper will examine the effects of genetic and environmental factors on substanceabuse in adolescents. It will investigate whether an addiction problem can be passed on to a child through genetics. The paper will also examine role of...